Just a year ago...

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of Griff's big surgery last summer!  Hard to believe it has been a full year.  This time last year we were meeting with Dr. Parks in St. Louis preparing for the long week ahead and hopeful for all the benefits from the surgery.

This is Griff just before surgery last summer.

Here is Griff just 2 weeks after surgery with Ms. Laura.  His legs were so weak that he could not support his weight.  We spent about 2 months in a wheelchair before he could use his walker again.

So, where are we now, a full year later.  Well, Griff has started walking with walking sticks at therapy!  Our goal is to be done with the walker by the end of the year.  He really needs practice on the stick.  He needs minimal support, but does lose his balance some on the sticks.  I'll get a picture of him on the sticks next week and post.  Ultimately, we still think he will walk independently and the sticks are certainly a huge step towards that.  The walker, while it provides great independence, is really a fun toy for him.  He sits on the back, does tricks, glides down hills on it, and is a human bulldozer when he has it.  The boy can really fly on that thing.  The problem is, he uses his upper body more than his legs.

Therapy continues to go well and we have settled into our summer routine.  Hip Hop was a no go for Griff.  He would have nothing to do with it!  But, he is getting his regular OT and PT twice a week + Saddle Up! for therapeutic riding + Saddle Up! for hippotherapy + swim lessons.  Tuesday is his therapy day off :)  Above is Griff on Piggy for his therapeutic riding.  He is with 2 of the wonderful volunteers there and learns all about horses and plays games.

Above is hippotherapy.  Notice he is riding backwards and without a saddle.  This really involves the core and forces him to balance.

He is sitting in the other room right now with his braces on.  We are at the 2 hour mark.  He does better when I am not in there.  I think we are on our 3rd Team Umizoomi episode :)

And, can not leave out the girls.  Here is everyone with Grandmom on our Florida trip.
Happy Summer all!  Stay cool!
~Martha

Happy Everything & Daily Bracing

First, I'll start by saying HAPPY EVERYTHING!  That includes mom's birthday, our anniversary, mom and dad's anniversary, father's day, family coming in town...

Love the beach!

This one cracks me up because a wave came and Gracie wouldn't put her feet down.

But, the real reason for this post.  Here is a small glimpse into what we do daily to help get Griff to where he needs to be.

This is the full view.  There are knee immobilizers, heel cord/foot braces, and under it all is the "tickle machine."

These stretch his heel cords to help him stand flat footed.

This is an e-stem machine to stimulate the muscles and help them grow and develop.

We are a little out of routine because of vacation.  But, we're getting back in the flow - I promise Ms. Laura (our wonderful PT.)  Ideally, Griff would sleep through the night with both sets of braces.  But, we can't seem to get him there.  He wakes up crying 2-3 hours after we put them on.  Instead, our goal is to get them on him for at least 4 hours a day with 30 minutes of the tickle machine.  Luckily, "dude" likes tv and that helps him pass the time.

Martha

Happy Summer!

We hope you are all having a wonderful summer!  We have finally settled down and are getting to relax a bit.  The girls had PreK graduation, Griff finished his year, and I am finally done w/ school, inservice and the yearbook!  The kids got to spend their first few days of summer at Harpeth Hall while I wrapped things up there.

Now that I am off, I get to go to all of Griff's therapies and horseback riding.  One, mom and dad get a break from helping us out.  Two, I get to talk to all of Griff's amazing therapists.  And three, I get to go picture crazy! So, keep checking back, because I am going to get some therapy pictures with Miss Laura.  She loves having her picture taken :)  Daddy gets to go to Saddle Up! for therapeutic riding because we scheduled an evening session.  He'll get some great pictures there.  And, we have signed up for Hip Hop!  The instructor is nice enough to let Griff try out a class before we commit.

Most exciting though, while I was talk to Miss Laura at therapy on Wednesday, Griff just decided to walk away from her and come to me.  He took 3 amazing steps!  We weren't even working on that at the moment, he just decided to do it!  So, we practiced it for awhile and he consistently took 2-3 great steps.  He is also climbing stairs really well and we have a goal for the end of the walker.  More on that next time when I get some good therapy pictures, but Griff has been walking with walking sticks and is getting pretty darn good.  We are hoping to have him on those full time sometime between the end of the summer and the end of the year.  He just needs practice and confidence.

On a break my heart note, we were leaving the play area at Chick-fil-A and Griff told me that a boy in there called him "different."  Griff told me "I'm not different."  We have talked about it a few times and how he is different from Gracie, and Gracie is different from Gabby, and Gabby is different mommy...  My friend Lori is so grounded in her faith, she is such a rock for me.  She said to make sure I tell him that God isn't finished with him and He has a great plan for him.  That is so true and my little "Dude" has already touched so many people.

What would a post be without a picture.  This is not a recent one.  I'm on Tim's computer and don't have my folders and folders of pictures.  But, this is a goodie!  I will have to say that is it almost 11:00 pm and Griff is sitting her next to me wide awake!  Someone actually had a nap today and now is wide awake!

And, this one is just cute too!
~Martha (and Griff)